Collinsville City Of Commissioners Decide To End Lease Negotiations With Nonprofit Animal Shelter

The Collinsville City Commissioners decided not to take action on Monday to not negotiate a new lease with Ward Wiseman Animal Haven, an animal shelter that's been operating rent-free on city property for nearly two decades.

The decision comes amidst weeks of tension between city leaders and supporters of the shelter, including a threat made against the city.

Ward Wiseman brought two new proposals to the city commissioners during a meeting Monday at City Hall.

The commissioners decided to not action on either of those proposals.

This decision comes after a month of back and forth between the city and people who support Ward Wiseman Animal Haven.

The facility made two proposals- the first saying they would pay their own utilities and rent going forward.

The second suggested the city put the building up for auction and that Ward Wiseman would bid on the space.

One of the commissioners told people at Monday's City Commissioner's meeting he was unwilling to continue lease negotiations because of a threat made against the city municipal building.

Collinsville Police Chief Matt Burke says it was an indirect threat made by someone the City Commissioners say supports Ward Wiseman.

Burke says police are investigating.

Another commissioner brought up points he wanted to see in the proposals, like representation on Ward Wiseman's Board and quarterly updates.

One of the commissioners made a motion to continue negotiations, but it wasn't seconded by the other board members and the motion died.

The City Manager says if the lease isn't renewed someone will take care of the animals.

Supporters of the shelter say they are frustrated and feel blindsided by what's happened the last few weeks.

"We’ve worked with the city since 2004, building the place and then also running it," said Susan Babbitt, the Founder of Ward Wiseman Animal Haven. "We’ve been a part of it for 20 years, and never a problem. Never anybody saying anything that we done anything wrong."

“I know that animals are still going to be important to the City of Collinsville, and we are going to continue to try and rehome the animals that we find, strays, people that have dumped them, even leave them at the animal shelter," said Chuck Ralls, the City Manager of the City of Collinsville. "And we also continue to focus on animal cruelty.”

Ward Wiseman has to be out by Jan. 1st unless city commissioners strike a deal.

Ralls says the only way negotiations would be able to continue is if the commissioners put a discussion on the agenda in the future.